Display rack



March 9, 1965 A. J. HAVLIS DISPLAY RACK Filed Nov. 30, 1962 ATT INVENTORADOLPH J. HAVLIS United States Patent 3,172,376 DESPLAY RACK Adolph lHavlis, Williams Bay, Wis. Filed Nov. 31), 1%2, Ser. No. 241,404 6Claims. (Cl. Hid-59) This invention relates to a new and improveddisplay rack, and has for its principal object the provision of simplerand more economical, andyet far better, shelf supports than have beenobtainable, the rack of my invention having coaXially aligned inturnedend portions on the opposite ends of a plurality of horizontal rodswhich are easily insertable for pivotal mounting in vertically spacedholes provided in but not extending through the downwardly diverginglegs of the tubular side frame embers of the rack, the legs being sprungtoward each other to permit entry of these inturned ends in these holesand then spread apart to retain the same in said holes, a single bottomrod of generally similar form but having the coaxially aligned inturnedends somewhat longer than the first mentioned ones and threaded andextending all the way through the legs and having nuts threaded thereonto draw the legs together and complete the assembly. The advantages ofthis construction, aside from the simplicity and economy of constructionalready mentioned, are:

(1) There is no damage to the bright galvanized and lacquered finish ofthe tubing used in the side frame members as would follow from a weldingoperation, for example, and, therefore, the cost of an extra plating andpolishing operation is saved, and a better looking display rack is theresult since the tubing retains its original finish and luster;

(2) Whatever amount of projection of the shelves both from the front andfrom the rear of the rack is desired is easily provided for bycorresponding elongation of the end portions including these inturnedends, merchandisers being eager to have the articles displayed asconspicuously on the shelves as possible, and this objective being soeasily and nicely achieved with the present construction, and

(3) The present construction is sturdy enuoght so that no diagonallyextending braces are required on either side nor even on the back of therack, thereby leaving the merchandise on all of the shelves more easilyaccessible from all sides of the rack.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a display rack made in accordance withmy invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective showing a typical slip-in pivotalconnection for both of the inturned ends of the shelf supporting rodsfor all but the bottom shelf; and

FIG. 3 is a similar perspective showing the related form of connectionused for both ends of the rods for the bottom shelf.

The same reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts in thesethree views.

Referring to the drawing, the reference numeral 4 designates the displayrack of my invention generally, the same comprising inverted generallyU-shaped tubular side frame members 5 and 6 that are interconnected nearthe top and bottom at the back by a pair of horizontal tubularcross-pieces 7 and 8 having downwardly bent ends 9 secured to the innerside of the rear legs 10 of the side frame members by means of screws 11entered through registering holes in the abutting parts and having wingnuts 12 threaded on their inner end portions. The frame thus providedserves to support a plurality of horizontal shelves 13-16 disposed invertically spaced rela- "ice tion between the side frame members. Eachof these shelves, which are all preferably made of sheet metal withupwardly bent front, back and side walls, as indicated at 17-19,respectively, has downwardly bent flanges 20 on the upper edges of theside walls 19 for support of the shelf at the opposite ends, the shelvesbeing mounted on pairs of horizontal rods 21-24 carried on the sideframe members 5 and 6. The rods 21-23 are all substantially alike, eachhaving the opposite ends thereof bent to U-shape, as indicated at 25, soas to provide coaxially aligned inturned end portions 26, theextremities of which are pivotally entered in coaxially aligned holes 27punched in the front wall of the front leg 28 of each side frame memberand in the rear wall of the rear leg 11 the rods being all of the samelength measured between their U-bends 25 but the inturned end portions26 on the uppermost rod 21 being the longest, while the inturned endportions 26 on the next lower pair of rods 22 are cut slightly shorter,and the inturned end portions 26 on the next lower pair of rods 23 arecut still shorter, whereby to conform in dimensions between the cut offextremities to the diiferent spacing of the downwardly diverging legs 19and 28 at the different levels and permit pivotally securing the threepairs of rods 21, 22 and 23 by means of the end portions 26 againstendwise displacement when assembled for pivotal movement in the holes27. The legs 10 and 28 of each of the side frame members 5 and 6 aresprung toward each other to permit assembling the inturned ends 26 inthe holes 27, and these legs are thereafter spread apart to preventendwise displacement of the inturned ends 26 from the holes 27, thisbeing accomplished in accordance with my invention by punching coaxiallyaligned holes 27' all the way through the legs 10 and 28 so that theinturned end portions 26 on the lowermost rods 24 can be passed throughthe holes 27 and have acorn nuts 29 threaded thereon, these end portions26' being threaded, as indicated at 311, for this purpose. Once the nuts2% have been applied and tight ened so as to cause the legs 10 and 23 tobe drawn together to a predetermined extent the rods 24 are, of course,fastened thereby quite securely and there is no possibility thereafterof either of the other rods 21, 22 or 23 becoming disconnected from theframe, even though there is a certain amount of freedom for both pivotaland endwise movement in all of these last mentioned rods.

in operation, despite the downward divergence of the legs 1!; and 252 ofthe side frame members 5 and 6, all of the rods 21-24 can be and are allof substantially the same length between the U-bends 25, and the shelves13-16 can be and are all alike and adapted to be used interchangeably.The shelves are supported in vertical alignment to one another, theuppermost shelf 13 projecting to an appreciable extent both rearwardlyand forwardly from the frame, and shelves 14 and 15 also projecting atthe front and rear of the rack but to lesser degrees, as clearlyillustrated in FIG. 1, while only the bottom shelf 15 has its front andrear ends disposed substantially flush with the front and rear of therack. This projection of the shelves 13-15 is considered to be of greatbenefit in merchandising from the standpoint that the articles ondisplay on the shelves, if placed as far forward as possible, are moreconspicuous and hence more apt to attract the attention of theprospective purchaser and thereby increase the likelihood of sales. Withthe present construction, sales are further promoted because thearticles on the shelves are readily accessible from all sides of therack, there being no need in the present construction for any diagonallyextending brace members on either of the side members 5 and 6 nor evenbetween these members at the rear, Where the cross members 7 and 8 areprovided in such close relationship to the bottoms of shelves 13 and 15,respectively, that they cannot interfere with the freedom of access toarticles on shelves 1 5 and 16 therebeneath. The nice appearance of thetubing used in the side members 5 and 6 is in no Way marred by thepunching of the holes 27 and 27', and all of the rods 2l24 can beassembled on these side frame members without any harm to the brightgalvanized and lacquered finish by virtue of the novel construction andmethod of assembly described. With other constructions requiring Weldingoperations this of course is not possible, where the only way the damageto finish can be rectified is 'by an additional costly plating andpolishing operation, the cost of which is saved with the presentinvention.

It is believed the foregoing description conveys a good understanding ofthe objects and advantages of my invention. The-appended claims havebeen drawn to cover all legitimate modifications and adaptations.

I claim:

1. A display rack comprising opposed upright side frame members, each ofwhich is resilient and of inverted U-shape providing downwardlydiverging front and rear legs, said legs on each side frame memberhaving vertically spaced horizontal holes provided therein above thelower end portions at a plurality of shelf levels, the holes at eachlevel in each member being in coaxial relation but on the outer sides ofthe legs remote fromone another, a plurality of horizontal shelf supportrods for the respective shelf levels disposed in transverse relation tothe legs of each of saidside frame members on their adjacent innersides, each of said rods having the opposite end portions projectingbeyond said legs and provided with inwardly directed pivot pin portionsin coaxial relationship having their inner ends arranged to be enteredin a pair of the aforesaid coaxially arranged holes, the pivot pinportions on one end of the several rods for'each side frame member beingentered to full depth first in the holes in one of said legs and saidlegs being springable toward each other to permit entry of the ends ofthe other pivot pinportions of the said several shelf support rods inthe holes in the other leg of said side-frame member and said legs beingspringable'apart thereafter to retain said rods in assembledrelationship to said legs, horizontal shelves mounted on said shelfsupport rods between said side frame members, and means for holding thelegs of each of said side frame members in spread-apart relationship.

2. A display rack as set forth in claim 1 wherein the last mentionedmeans comprises another horizontal'shelf support rod in connection withthe lower end portion of each of said side frame members on their innersides, each of said rods having the opposite end portions there ofprojecting beyond said legs and having in spaced parallel relationshipto said end portions inwardly directed threaded elongated end portionsentered through coaxial horizontal holes provided in said legs andreceiving nuts on the extremities thereof abutting the legs on theiradjacent inner sides.

3. A display rack comprising opposed upright generally U-shaped tubularresilient frame members each providing substantially vertical front andrear legs, said legs on each side frame member having vertically spacedhorizontal holes provided therein at a plurality of shelf levels, theholes in each level in each frame member being in coaxial relation butin the outer sides of the legs remote from one another, a plurality ofhorizontal shelf support rods fo the respective shelf levels disposed invertically spaced parallel relation to one another, each of said rodshaving the opposite end portions bent U-shaped in coplanar relationshipso as to provide in wardly directed coaxial pin portions on each rod ar-4 ranged to engage ina pai of the aforesaid coaxially arranged holes,the pins on" one end of the several rods for each side frame memberbeing entered to full depth first in the holes in one of the legs ofsaid frame member and the legs being then springable toward each otherfor entry of the ends of the other pins on the said several shelfsupport rods in the holes in the other leg of said frame member afterwhich said legs spring apart to retain said rods with the pins thereofin assembled relationship to said legs, means holdin the legs of each ofsaid side irz members spread apart so as to retain said rods inassembled relationship to said legs, andhorizontal shelves for therespective shelf levels having means on the opposite ends thereof forsupporting the same on the respective rods;

4. A display rack as set forth in claim 3, including cross-brace membersrigidly interconnecting the side frame members independently of saidshelves but in closely spaced parallel relationship to certain of saidshelves.

5. A display rack as set forth in claim '3, wherein the last mentionedmeans comprises another horizontal shelf support rod on each of saidside frame members near the ends of the legs, each of said rods havingthe opposite end portions bent U-shaped in coplanar relationship to oneanother providing coaxially arranged pins legs, the end portions of saidpins being threaded and receiving nuts on the extre nities thereof whichwhen tightened against the inner sides of the legs serve to spread thesame apart, thereby securing-said rods to said legs and maintaining allof the other rods in assembled relationship'to said legs.

6. As a new article of manufacture, a' generally U-shapedframe memberproviding diverging legs, the legs having vertically spaced horizontalholes provided therein, each pair of holes at each level beingin'coaxial relation to one another but extending inwardly from the outerside's of the legs remote from one another, a plurality of hrizontalrods inverticalry spaced parallel relation, each having theopposed ends bent U-shaped to provide inwardly directed pins in coaxialrelationship for entry in a pair of said holes in said legs, thepins onone end of the several rods being entered to .full depth first in theholes in one of said legs after which said legs are springablc towardeach other to permit entry of the ends of the other pins of the saidseveral rods inthe holes in the other leg, whereupon said legs arespringable apart to retain said rods in assembled relationship to saidlegs, and another horizontal rod nearest the ends of said legs havingthe opposite. ends thereof bent U-shaped in coplanar relationship to oneanother to provide coaxiallyarranged pins which are-entered throughcoaxially arranged horizontal through holes provided in said legs, theprojecting ends of said pins being threaded'and receivingnuts on theextremities thereof abutting the legs on their inner sides, whereby whensaidnut are tightened thelegs are spread apart to secure the rod to saidframe and retain all of the rods in assembled relationshiprto 'saidframe.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. A DISPLAY RACK COMPRISING OPPOSED UPRIGHT SIDE FRAME MEMBERS, EACH OF WHICH IS RESILIENT AND OF INVERTED U-SHAPED PROVIDING DOWNWARDLY DIVERGING FRONT AND REAR LEGS, SAID LEGS ON EACH SIDE FRAME MEMBER HAVING VERTICALLY SPACED HORIZONTAL HOLES PROVIDED THEREIN ABOVE THE LOWER END PORTIONS AT A PLURALITY OF SHELF LEVELS, THE HOLES AT EACH LEVEL IN EACH MEMBER BEING IN COAXIAL RELATION BUT ON THE OUTER SIDES OF THE LEGS REMOTE FROM ONE ANOTHER, A PLURALITY OF HORIZONTAL SHELF SUPPORT RODS FOR THE RESPECTIVE SHELF LEVELS DISPOSED IN TRANSVERSE RELATION TO THE LEGS OF EACH OF SAID SIDE FRAME MEMBERS ON THEIR ADJACENT INNER SIDES, EACH OF SAID RODS HAVING THE OPPOSITE END PORTIONS PROJECTING BEYOND SAID LEGS AND PROVIDED WITH INWARDLY DIRECTED PIVOT PIN PORTIONS IN COAXIAL RELATIONSHIP HAVING THEIR INNER ENDS ARRANGED TO BE ENTERED IN A PAIR OF THE AFORESAID COAXIALLY ARRANGED HOLES, THE PIVOT PIN PORTIONS ON ONE END OF THE SEVERAL RODS FOR EACH SIDE FRAME MEMBER BEING ENTERED TO FULL DEPTH FIRST IN THE HOLES IN ONE OF SAID LEGS AND SAID LEGS BEING SPRINGABLE TOWARD EACH OTHER TO PERMIT ENTRY OF THE ENDS OF THE OTHER PIVOT PIN PORTIONS OF THE SAID SEVERAL SHELF SUPPORT RODS IN THE HOLES IN THE OTHER LEG OF SAID SIDE FRAME MEMBER AND SAID RODS IN ASSEMBLED ABLE APART THEREAFTER TO RETAIN SAID RODS IN ASSEMBLED RELATIONSHIP TO SAID LEGS, HORIZONTAL SHELVES MOUNTED ON SAID SHELF SUPPORT RODS BETWEEN SAID SIDE FRAME MEMBERS, AND MEANS FOR HOLDING THE LEGS OF EACH OF SAID SIDE FRAME MEMBERS IN SPREAD-APART RELATIONSHIP. 